At the Domes!

Milwaukee Winter Farmers Market

2018/2019 Season Venue

At the end of last season it was announced that we’d be moving to a new location for the 2018/2019 season. We were able to work out terms to stay for at least one more season at the Domes’ Greenhouse Annex. Read below for some of our timeline of communications regarding our venue for the 2018/2019 season.

August 2, 2018

The Fondy Food Center, Milwaukee County Parks, and Zilli Hospitality Group have worked out a lease that allows the Milwaukee Winter Farmers Market to remain at the Domes' Greenhouse Annex for the 2018/2019 year! With great support from customers, vendors, and the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, we were able to agree on terms that allow the market at least one more season in the Greenhouse Annex. Hours will change to 8:00am-12:00pm, but market will run otherwise as usual from November 3rd to March 30th, with no Market on November 24th or December 29th.

Read more details in THIS article published by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

#MeetMeInTheGreenhouse continues!

May 11, 2018

Please read our letter to the Milwaukee County Supervisors stating our desire to stay at the Mitchell Park Domes' Greenhouse Annex next season. After 2 months of looking for a new venue for the MWFM, no clear option has presented itself, and the Domes' location remains our ideal and preferred location for the farmers market.

March 13, 2018

The Milwaukee Winter Farmers Market (MWFM) is finishing up its 9th season in the Greenhouse Annex at the Mitchell Park Conservatory (the Domes) on Saturday April 14th. After 5 successful years of collaboration, MWFM will be bidding a fond and grateful farewell to the Domes after this season.

The Milwaukee County Parks, who manages the Domes, will be changing direction with its use of the Greenhouse Annex as an event space. This simply means the Annex will not be available next season as a venue for the MWFM. The space is going to be increasingly used for rentals such as weddings, as well as accommodating the expansion of existing Domes public weekend events.

The MWFM will continue under the management of the Fondy Food Center, with amazing locally-farmed and locally-produced food, at a yet-to-be determined venue for the 2018/2019 season.

The MWFM opened at the Tommy G. Thompson Youth Center at Wisconsin State Fair Park in 2009, originally under the sponsorship of the Wisconsin Apple Growers Association and the name “Milwaukee County Winter Farmers Market.” The 2013/2014 season brought the winter farmers market to the lobby and Show Dome of the Mitchell Park Conservatory, while the current Greenhouse Annex event space was being finished. In January 2015 the market moved into the newly-built, 10,000 square foot Greenhouse Annex, where the market has thrived for 3.5 years. Fondy Food Center (FFC) took over management of the MWFM in November 2015. Katie Hassemer, Director of Farmers Markets for the FFC, says, “The Milwaukee Winter Farmers Market is a robust market with great history. The market has moved in the past, and has proven that the customers and vendors remain committed no matter where we’re located. We look forward to a future space that is centrally located, easy for vendors and customers to access, has free parking, and can accommodate our flourishing market. We can’t wait to see where this new opportunity takes us.” The FFC is assembling a search committee and will work with partners to find a new home.

The MWFM hosts nearly 50 local farmers and food producers bringing produce, bakery, meat, poultry, eggs, fish, dairy, cheeses, grains, ready-to-eat hot foods, and specialty products. Over 130 local businesses applied for the 2017/2018 market season, with nearly 80 businesses accepted, many on a part-time schedule. The market is open Saturdays from November to April, and sees an average of 1,800 customers each market. The need for customers to access local food and for vendors to access their customers remains strong year-round; the Milwaukee Winter Farmers Market and the Fondy Food Center are committed to ensuring that people can Eat Local Longer, now and far in to the future.

Stay updated with the Milwaukee Winter Farmers Market here on the website, on Facebook, and by signing up for the The Fondy Beet newsletter.